Four men and a woman appeared in court today accused of laundering cash from the sale of fake and unlicensed medicines after more than £19m passed through their accounts.

Prosecutors say counterfeit medication was bought in European countries such as Germany, Austria and France before being sold.

David Cohen, 37, Mindy Gross, 42, and Jacob Gross, 44, Edward Cohen, 65, and Maurice Gross, 37, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court facing a total of 14 charges against them.

David Cohen, of Golders Green, north London, is charged with making a false statement to obtain benefits, failing to notify of a change of circumstances affecting benefits, providing false information to the Charity Commission, acquiring criminal property and being concerned by the acquisition of criminal property.

Edward Cohen, of Stamford Hill, is charged with providing false statements to obtain benefits, providing false information to the Charity commission, acquiring criminal property, and two counts of being concerned in the acquisition of criminal property.

Jacob Gross and Mindy Gross, both of Golders Green, and Maurice Gross, of Antwerp, Belgium, are all charged with acquiring criminal property.

Jacob Gross is also charged with being concerned in the acquisition of criminal property.

Juliana Ng, prosecuting, said: ‘At its highest, the Crown say that over £19 million passed through these defendants bank accounts through the sale of counterfeit prescription-only medication or counterfeit medication that were purchased in countries such as Germany, Austria and France.

‘They processed the money and then sent it overseas to fraudsters. They obtained their part of it.’

All five defendants were bailed ahead of a preliminary hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 21 March.